DA: Additional Leaf charges possible

Prosecutors in Texas have set a Thursday morning deadline for former San Diego Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf to turn himself in on drug-related charges, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

"He can run, but he can't hide and we will find him," said James Farren, the district attorney for Randall County, Texas, according to the report.

Farren is also considering additional charges against Leaf, who starred at Washington State and was taken second overall in the 1998 NFL draft, but struggled in a brief pro career. "There is sufficient information that I felt justified in asking the grand jury in keeping the investigation open," Farren said, according to the report.

Leaf's attorney, Bill Kelly, said Leaf would turn himself at some point this week. "All this stuff about extradition is hype, neon-sign hype, as far as I'm concerned," Kelly said, according to the report.

A warrant has been issued for Leaf's arrest in Randall County, where Leaf is charged with burglary to a habitation. Leaf also was indicted on seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and one count of delivery of a simulated controlled substance.

The indictment alleged Leaf presented an incomplete medical history to several physicians between January 2008 and September 2008 to obtain or try to obtain the painkiller hydrocodone. He's also alleged to have broken into an apartment in Canyon on Oct. 30 and stealing hydrocodone, which had been prescribed to an injured football player.

Leaf underwent drug treatment in British Columbia and is believed to be working there. Last week, Kelly told The Associated Press that Leaf is "not a fugitive from justice" and would return.

Monday, Kelly said the delay in Leaf's return is owed to "paperwork issues that had to be completed as far as his work permit" in Canada, according to the Union-Tribune.

But Farren has waited long enough, according to the report.

"The fact that it's taking this long for him to make his appearance is creating some suspicion in my mind that he's stalling," Farren said, according to the newspaper. "If he doesn't show up by Thursday, we will be sending inquiries to every law enforcement agency that we can think of that might come into contact with him to make sure they're aware that there are warrants out for his arrest."